Homesickness in First-Year Students at a Costa Rican Public University

Abstract

During the first year of university, students from rural areas in Costa Rica might have to leave home and settle down in a different city to attain a higher-education degree. These students go through diverse challenges due to the changes they have to face during the adaptation to this new life. One of the major aspects that students cope with is the phenomenon of homesickness since it can affect their emotions, motivation, and, subsequently, their academic achievement. The purpose of this study was to explore this phenomenon among first-year students enrolled in the majors of English as a Foreign Language, Computer Sciences, and Business Administration, study plans offered by Universidad Nacional (UNA) at Sede Interuniversitaria de Alajuela, in Costa Rica. During the first term in 2019, the researchers diagnosed the level of homesickness in this population. Through a mixed method approach, the likeliness, level, and traits of homesickness were determined. First, a demographic questionnaire informed on what regions these students came from and place of residence back then. On a second research stage, the students who had to move far from home completed a self-report scale to measure their level of homesickness; also, these students were interviewed to gather data on the strategies implemented at a personal level and social support given by university agents. Main findings revealed that all students changing their place of residence to start university studies were more likely to display some degree of homesickness. Results suggest that more emphasis on the phenomenon and follow-up of students’ cases is suggested to prevent and approach academic failure and eventual dropping out.